U13s vs Chobham friendly

A squad four players short, players playing their first season of the 15 a side game, players experimenting with positions and a returning face, this game was not set up to be quiet. Having conceded a league walkover Streatham- Croydon headed down to Chobham with an incomplete squad unsure of what to expect. Having shuffled players into new positions in order to accommodate four players given to us by the opposition the games started on an experimental note.

However, it was also a sluggish start Chobham crashing over from a ruck to score and convert. From the restart Streatham-Croydon were put under pressure with Chobham quicker at the breakdown. Gradually Streatham - Croydon clicked into gear with Romeo Brown and Rimarni Richards proving effective in halting attacks and disrupting up to three men in the rucks. This allowed territory to be gained and upon reaching the opposition's 22 Conor Oresanya charged down his opposite number pressurising the fly half's kick and gathering the charged down ball to cross the line. 7-5

From the restart Chobham's speed in the rucks began to tell with a penalty being awarded for offside at the ruck. With Chobham crossing through a crash ball 12-5. Yet, Streatham-Croydon were still in the game and were determined to prove it, absorbing pressure before Rimarni Richards launched a trademark run to carry the ball over 30m to the oppositions 5 metre line winning a penalty in the process. A quick tap ended with Connor Oresanya falling two metres short before an unfortunate knock on in the next phase ended the attack. The scrum being awarded to Chobham allowed them a platform to attack and with a series of quick effective phases they crossed to leave Streatham-Croydon with an uphill task heading into the final minutes of the half. 17-5

Spirited Streatham believed that the half was not finished though and after strong ruck work Rimarni Richards stole the ball running almost the full pitch before passing to the side whilst on the way to the floor to allow the onrushing Ben Crewe to cross under the posts on his return to the club. Connor Oresanya slotting the conversion to place the scores at 17-12 entering the half time break.
After a quick reminder that they were still in the game and running Chobham scared Streatham-Croydon set out to continue the pace set at the end of the first half. Yet it was Chobham who made more of an impact. Slipping round the fringes twice to run in two tries to create a lead 31-12. Unfortunately this signalled the opening of the floodgates with a further two tries scored by Chobham from more even play. 43-12

The players needed no further encouragement other than the fact that they hadn't travelled all this way for nothing and set about leaving their mark. From large defensive hits to major competition in the rucks pressure was applied to Chobham and from defensive pressure from Connor Oresanya and Nathan Addy-Walker, Ben Crewe was able to collect a Chobham pass that hit the ground. Charging through to score from his own half. Connor Oresanya with the conversion 43-19
Unfortunately the physicality of the game began to tell with an injury requiring a change at prop. However, at the next scrum the front five managed to get going having struggled in the game with a clean hook from Jordan Unokesan allowing Nathan Addy-Walker in his first appearance at scrum half to set Ben Crewe running, with a short pop to Romeo Brown the ball was prevented from going dead and then when Rimarni Richards was presented the ball with only a short distance to the line he crashed over with Connor Oresanya adding the extras. 43-26.

There was still a try left in this game but unfortunately it fell to the home side, who crossed from a pick and go despite repeated knock backs and hard tackling with many players laying their bodies on the line. Final Score 48-26

In summary a hard fought game with many positives to take considering the day started with only eleven confirmed players.